State Police arrest mom's boyfriend in beating of 2-year-old girl

State police in Kittanning have arrested Bryant Yeaples, 22, in the beating of 2-year-old Mykala Yeaples. Mykala's family says the man is Mykala's mother's boyfriend, but is not the biological father even though she shares his last name.

Mykala's grandmother, Melody Krauser said Bryant Yeaples has claimed that his children caused the injuries on October 25th, but Krauser said doctors who saved Mykala's life with blood transfusions disagree.

"They said, 'No.' They can tell it was done by an adult," Krauser said. "What the trauma doctor told me is that she had been kicked and punched repeatedly."

Still unexplained is why someone would do that to a toddler, and why Mykala wasn't taken to the hospital until the following morning, according to Krauser.

Child protective services has now intervened. Krauser has guardianship of Mykala.

Krauser said she's praying that the child does not have long-term damage.

"She deserves justice," Krauser said. "What could she have possibly done wrong to deserve a beating?"

Bryant Yeaples is charged with aggravated assault among other charges. He is in the Armstrong County Jail, and his bail is set at $50,000.

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